There are many interesting facts and modern-day ties to Nike. Nike allied herself with the Chief Greek God Zeus during the great Titanomachy conflict. As Nike is a brand dedicated to sportswear and sports equipment, the company decided being based on Nike, the Goddess of Victory, was a fitting choice. One such statue can be found at the Zeus Temple in Attica. The Nike logo is undoubtedly a simple design, composed only of two curved lines, but over the years those lines have generated billions for its owners. According to some ancient Greek texts, Nike was regarded as the daughter of. The branch of palm in her hand stands as another peace symbol. God. The name Nike is believed to have originated from the Greek word Neikos. Bia was the goddess of force, Kratos was the god of strength, Zelus was the god of zeal, and Nike was the goddess of victory. Nike is often depicted with several symbols and attributes. On both the north and south sides an array of winged Nikes are shown carrying offerings to Athena who sat seated at the west end of each stream of Nike. According to Andrew Stewart the doffed helmet and pomegranate are symbols of assistance, fertility, and peace. Phil Knight Author: Neon Tommy CC BY-SA 2.0. Quite commonly, Nike is shown holding a palm branch, which was often used to symbolize the period of peace following a victory. . The Greek goddess Nike was variously described as the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the goddess Styx, and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal). This was due to the fact that she was so closely associated with Athena and Zeus, who were much more prominent and revered figures in Greek mythology. Nike was the goddess representing victory. [32] The slight overfold of her peplos across the midsection also evokes the sense of a small wind blowing upwards from her soft descent. The fusion of the two goddesses at Athens has contributed to the ambiguity surrounding Nike's origins. She is often also shown as a small figure in the hands of one of them, like the picture in this section. The Titan War occurred when Zeus decided to start a rebellion against Cronus, his father. The roman counterpart of Nike is the goddess, Victoria. Hathor | Egyptian Goddess, Story, Facts & Symbols. When Nike appeared alone, she always had wings and sported a palm branch in her right hand. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 In 'Nike and Ethics' we delve in to the lives of Aristotle and his prodigious student, Alexander the Great. [28] In both these examples Nike is associated with victory in an athletic competition rather than only a military competition. Zeus escaped as a child, and when he grew older, he fed his father a mixture of wine and mustard to cause him to throw up, releasing all of Zeus' siblings. For the ancient Greeks, speed and strength were the two keys to victory in anything important - combat, wrestling, running, or boxing - so it made sense that she'd be connected to all of them. They lived out their days in Olympus with Zeus, and Nike took on her role as divine charioteer for both Zeus and Athena. She is often associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, and Zeus, the king of the Gods. This statue of Nike was made of Parian marble and was dedicated to Zeus by the Messenians and Naupaktians around 420 BCE during the Classical period. This makes a whole lot of sense, considering the fact that Nike was the bringer of victory, i.e. Nike's right arm is outstretched at an angle while her left arm is bent so that her hand rests upon her upper thigh. Nike is also associated with speed and agility which perhaps also explains why this Goddess of victory is used as a tradename for a . Updates? She assumes the role of the divine charioteer, a role in which she is often portrayed in Classical Greek art. God of health and medicine. That was the challenge behind Nike Goddess, whose goal was to change how the company designed for, sold to and communicated with women. If she was seen with another god, Nike was always wingless. In the mythological episodes that narrate the great Titan Wars, the conflicts after which the Olympians led by Zeus take over control of the world from the infamous Titans, Nike comes on the side of Zeus, and she helps him by being his principal chariot driver. When did Nike introduce Just Do It? . ", Parkin, Andrew. She was always present during friendly competitions, flying around and celebrating victors. The goddess Nike came to be an everlasting symbol . I know how much she thought he must have hated her as a mother. She designed several logo proposals and Knight chose the swoosh, a shape inspired by the wings of the Greek goddess Nike. [5] Nike gained this honored role beside Zeus during the Titanomachy where she was one of the first gods to offer her allegiance to Zeus. When she did, though, she was always shown as the goddess of victory, strength, and speed. She and her siblings were close companions ofZeus. She is often seen seated beside Zeus on Mount Olympus. Rumor has it she later received an undisclosed amount of stock options as well. When Nike is portrayed alone, it is an unwritten rule that she has wings as well as a palm branch, usually held in the right hand. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The original FIFA World Cup Trophy design, from the beginning of the tournament until 1970, was a gold-plated figure of Nike holding a cup above her head. Also known as Winged Goddess, Nike is most often pictured as having wings. Which is why in numerous representations, either in sculpture or painting, Nike can be noticed next to Zeus. [17] For Styx he gave her the honor of being "the great oath of the gods"[17] For her children Zeus granted them his eternal favor by allowing them "to dwell with him for all time. The goddess Nike is all about winning, being number one. [42] According to the Suda, Athena Nike without wings represents calm civility, the pomegranate represents prosperity and the doffed helmet represents peace. She had a son, Strife, whom she brought along with her when she rode her chariot to war alongside Ares. She probably needed them because she is often portrayed flying around battlefields, rewarding victory, glory, and fame by handing out laurel wreaths. It has also been noted that earlier depictions of Nemesis made her slightly resemble Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and passion. Her equivalent in Ancient Rome was the goddess Victoria. Greek Mythology Gods & Goddesses | What is Greek Mythology? In addition to her image, the Olympic medal has the wreath of victory and shield symbols typically associated with Nike. It is thought to have been created on the island of Samothrace after a victory in a sea battle. Known as Winged Victory, or the Winged Victory of Samothrace, it presents the goddess standing on the prow of a boat. The 2 goddesses are similar in many aspects, for example, both goddesses are winged deities. An error occurred trying to load this video. Statues of her attempt to evoke a sense of flight. Instead of flying sideways, Paionios's Nike advances forward with feet just alighting upon the ground. [55] According to decree IG i^3 36, she would have received a portion of the sacrifice and a stipend of fifty drachmas[56] paid for by the kolakretai. Because Nike is the Goddess of Victory, she was often portrayed flying around the battlefield and bestowing the laurel wreath to the victors of a battle in Ancient Greek art. Her mother was an Oceanid, a sea nymph, named Styx. Oct 11, 2017 Stefan Andrews. [12] In contrast to Harrison and Baudrillart's views, E.E. As the Greek goddess of Victory, Nike was closely associated with athletics and other contests, as well as warfare. Since 1945, the goddess has also been used by the U.S. Anti Aircraft Missle System. Nike was appointed his charioteer, and together the four became sentinels of Zeus' throne. She always carried a palm branch in her right hand as a symbol of peace. Indeed, Nike gradually came to be recognized as a sort of mediator of success between gods and men. To this end, the name of Nike was invoked by . During the war of the Thunderer with the Titans, Nick helped the supreme ruler of Olympus, because all the gods swore by the waters of her mother . Goddess who relieved people from pain and sorrow. Navigating Nike# Nike is a crushing new Greek warrior every bit as comfortable on the frontlines as Bellona or Amaterasu. Nike's resilience and determination made her recognizable throughout her time, eventually naming her a Goddess. Nike is also associated with having wings and providing victors with a wreath of laurel leaves. Athena Nike was always wingless. Her three sibling deities represented the corresponding concepts of strength, force, and zeal. Nike is believed to have a shield that she carries while hovering about in battles. Both Nike statues in Zeus's and Athena's hands were winged. The River Styx was named for Nike's . The Greek God Hermes | What is Hermes the God of? She was also the goddess of spring growth, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Their children, the Titans (Prometheus who gave fire to man is probably the most famous) replaced them. Regula, deTraci. The name was chosen because nike is the goddess of speed and victory. Nike became Zeus's charioteer. One is estimated to be 29 feet tall. In Greek Mythology, Nike was the Goddess of speed, strength and victory. Her winged, straight, and slightly bent posture evokes the appearance that she is looking down at where to place her feet as she descends. Nike is probably the world's most recognized shoe company. The most prominent dedication to Nike is the Temple of Athena Nike at the Acropolis in Athens. Unilever. Other portrayals also show Nike playing an instrument such as a lyre, as well as kithara, in a symbol of celebrating victory but peacefully, over music and singing. Nike alone was winged. In most sources, Nike is the daughter of Pallas, the god of battle and warcraft, and Styx, the goddess of the underworld and the River Styx, but in the Homeric Hymn to Ares, she is described as the daughter of Ares, the god of war and courage. Nike alone was winged. Cronus had received a prophecy from his own father, Uranus, that one of his sons was eventually going to overthrow him, so he ate his children to prevent this from happening. [29] Typically, Nike is the one who bestows the victor with the prize. Nike is often depicted with the following symbols, considered sacred to her. "A Statuette of Nike From the Collection of John Ruskin. Queen Victorias Father, the Duke of Kent, The Boston Massacre: The American Revolution, Staff of Hermes and the golden winged sandals, 15 interesting things you need to know about Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, Poseidon: Myths and Facts about the Greek God of the Sea, Greek God Hermes: Myths, Powers and Early Portrayals. [4] In Greek literature Nike is described as both an attribute and attendant to the gods Zeus and Athena. This was symbolized by a wreath of bay leaves, a . Given her striking appearance and unique skills, Nike does not actually appear in many mythological stories. 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